Retailers profit from wet weather

Press, 30 December 1982, Page 4

Retailers profit from wet weather

Christchurch bustled with shoppers yesterday as retailers profited from the wet weather.

Spokesmen for three of the city’s department stores. Ballantyne’s. Farmers in Colombo Street, and D.1.C.. Ltd. reported that they had been busier than expected. The first shopping day after the Christmas holiday traditionally showed a high turnover. they said; but this year it was better than usual.

Many of the shoppers were visitors to Christchurch, but the marketing manager of D.1.C.. Mr W. Scott, said that many of them were local residents.

The numbers were boosted because fewer people were on holiday away from home this year.

The manager of- Smith's City Market. Mr Peter Leeming. said that it had been extremely busy, particularly in the home handyman department. It was

usual for people to spend their money on gifts before Christmas and to begin to "organise themselves" for holiday projects round the house afterwards, he said. Other shoppers were busy supplying themselves with leisure-time goods. Whitcoulls. Ltd. in Cashel Street was hectic as people exchanged gift and book tokens, exchanged Christmas presents, or simply treated .themselves to new reading material.

A spokesman for the shop. Mr Rex Williams, said that the volume of trade reached pre-Christmas levels and that many families were in town. They seemed to be in a “holiday mood.” The record shops were also busy.

Many, visitors and residents alike, sought weatherproof entertainment at the city's cinemas. Those showing films suitable for children proved particulary

popular. The supermarkets got their share as people restocked their cupboards after the depletions of Christmas. The section manager of Woolworth's Supermarket in Riccarton. Mr Tony Franc, said that he had had to put on four extra staff to cope with the demand. Trade was better than he had expected. The assistant manager of Supervalue in Merivale. Mr P. T. Keene, said that his staff had been "flat out." Things had gone a "little haywire" because the volume of trade was unexpected. There was normally a “bit of a downturn" after Christmas.

The high number of shoppers put parking at a premium. Mrs J. Stewart, the supervisor at the City Council’s parking building in Lichfield Street, said that it and the council’s other facilities had been full. By mid-after-noon, however, the numbers had begun to thin a little.